Our Mission
To provide philanthropic support to registered charities that are initiating projects that have a long-lasting benefit to the Medicine Hat community in the areas of youth sports, education, or health-related projects.
What We Do
Values Statement
The Yuill Family Foundation is a private family foundation that affirms our founder’s view that change is accomplished through vision, leadership and hard work. Supporting organizations that demonstrate the innovation to create positive change in the community.
Foundation History
The Yuill Family history illustrates the prominent role the Yuill Family played in the political, industrial and commercial development of the City of Medicine Hat over the past 135 years and 3 generations. Bill Yuill’s grandfather saw the potential In the early days with clay in abundance and cheap natural gas, Alberta Clay Products, one of several potteries that became a core industry in Medicine Hat. It was one of a broad range of businesses that Bill’s grandfather had a hand in.
With the introduction of new technologies, Bill’s father quickly embraced the Radio and television business and started CHAT AM in 1946 and CHAT TV in 1957 accompanied by 3 movie theatres. In the early ‘60’s Cable Television was added to the broadcast division. Bill purchased the ownership of the Monarch companies in 1972 and continued a growth strategy that would expand to 38 cable systems in Alberta, Saskatchewan and BC. The broadcasting arm of Monarch grew to 16 stations in medium and large markets in Alberta and British Columbia. In every market, Monarch was committed to local programming and maintaining a very active role in each local community.
In 2001 the assets of Monarch Broadcasting were sold to the Jim Pattison Group and in 2004 the majority of the cable systems were sold to Shaw Communications. In 2006 the remaining BC cable systems were sold to City West Cable & Telephone Corporation.
Bill’s sports company, Consolidated Sports Holdings Ltd. currently owns the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League along with several other hockey franchises in the United States Hockey League and the North American Hockey League.
The Yuill Family Foundation was founded by Bill and Elizabeth Yuill in 2007. Since that time, the Yuill Family Foundation has provided over $9M of support to capital projects and programs.
The Margery E. Yuill Cancer Center located in the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital is a fitting tribute to Bill’s mother – a nurse at the hospital who helped establish the Medicine Hat YMCA and was very active with the Red Cross. Margery died of pancreatic cancer in 1965.
Medalta, the industrial heritage museum dedicated the Medicine Hat’s famous clay industry received a contribution to the Yuill Family Gallery which features the work of artists in residence and travelling exhibitions. This donation pays tribute to the Yuill historic roots.
Other supported projects include St. Andrew’s College Athletic Complex & gymnasium in Aurora, Ont. Bill’s alma mater, the Medicine Hat YMCA expansion, Edmonton’s Mazankowski Heart Institute and the J.H.”Hop” Yuill Fitness Center at the Medicine Hat High School in memory of Bill’s father.
The Yuill Family Foundation currently financially supports projects or programs that are focused on: Education, Student Athletics and Health-related initiatives. The priority Project locations are the Medicine Hat area, Alberta, Western Canada and Canada.